Title: Effect of combined grain refinement and modification on microstructure and mechanical properties of hypoeutectic, eutectic and hypereutectic Al-Si alloys

Authors: C.G. Shivaprasad; Kiran Aithal; S. Narendranath; Vijay Desai; P.G. Mukunda

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Srinivasnagar PO, Surathkal, Mangalore 575025, Karnataka, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 6429, Yelahanka, Bangalore 560 064, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Srinivasnagar PO, Surathkal, Mangalore 575025, Karnataka, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Srinivasnagar PO, Surathkal, Mangalore 575025, Karnataka, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 6429, Yelahanka, Bangalore 560 064, India

Abstract: The effect of melt treatment owing to the combined addition of grain refiner and modifier on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-Si alloys having 7% (hypoeutectic), 12% (eutectic) and 15% silicon (hypereutectic) is studied. 1 wt. % of Al-1Ti-3B Master alloy was used as grain refiner. For modification of eutectic Si, 0.2 wt. % of Al-10Sr Master alloy was added to hypoeutectic alloy and 0.4 wt. % is added to eutectic alloy as well as hypereutectic alloy. Furthermore, refinement of primary Si in hypereutectic alloy was achieved by addition of 0.04 wt. % of phosphorus. The goal of this investigation is to determine the influence of combined addition of grain refiner and modifier on mechanical properties and qualitatively correlate with the microstructural changes.

Keywords: Al-Si alloys; grain refinement; modification; microstructure; wear; hardness; hypoeutectic alloys; eutectic alloys; hypereutectic alloys; melt treatment; aluminium; silicon; phosphorus.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2015.072921

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2015 Vol.10 No.3/4, pp.274 - 284

Received: 20 Dec 2014
Accepted: 23 Jun 2015
Published online: 07 Nov 2015 *

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